5 Questions with New Indiana Men’s Basketball Coach Darian DeVries
Less than 19 weeks remain until tip-off for the 2025–26 college basketball season, but for new Indiana men’s basketball coach Darian DeVries, the urgency isn’t about the calendar. It’s about culture, intensity, and a vision that refuses to wait. When DeVries was introduced in Assembly Hall this past spring, he didn’t bring pageantry or platitudes—he brought a folder stuffed with offensive sets, a list of 2026 recruits, and a mindset forged in the grind of Missouri Valley winters and Sweet Sixteen sprints.
We sat down with Coach DeVries at Cook Hall, where the echo of bouncing basketballs already underscores his intent. Below are five questions—and five answers—that paint a vivid picture of Indiana’s next chapter.
1. Why Indiana, and why now?
“This place breathes basketball,” DeVries begins, eyes scanning the crimson-and-cream banners above the practice court. “You walk into Assembly Hall, and you feel the weight of history. But I didn’t come here to relive the past—I came to build something present and fierce. I see Indiana not as a sleeping giant, but as a restless one. And frankly, I’m restless too.”
2. What’s your biggest priority this offseason?
DeVries leans forward. “Identity. Before we run a play, we need to know who we are. Tough, disciplined, connected. Those are more than words—they’re habits. Every sprint, every screen, every defensive rotation in June matters. We’ve spent time in the film room, but also in long, honest conversations. If these guys can trust each other in June, they’ll fight for each other in February.”
3. How do you plan to balance tradition with innovation?
“I respect the Hoosier legacy—Knight, Branch McCracken, the banners—but I’m not chained to it. We’re running a modern motion offense with a spread floor and positionless concepts. I want guards who can post and bigs who can shoot. We’ll still value defense—it’s in the DNA—but we’re not afraid to play with tempo and creativity. Indiana’s past earns us respect; our style will earn us wins.”
4. What kind of players are you looking to recruit?
“Winners. Guys who hate losing more than they love winning. I want high-character kids who treat the game and their teammates the right way. Skill can be taught—will can’t. If you don’t dive for loose balls or help up your teammate after a charge, you won’t last here. Indiana basketball is about more than points. It’s about pride.”
5. Final thoughts for Hoosier Nation?
DeVries doesn’t hesitate. “Don’t wait until November to get excited. Every day between now and then is a brick in the foundation. I need you loud, loyal, and locked in. We’re not promising perfection—we’re promising fight. And I promise this: it won’t take long for you to be proud of this team.”
Coach DeVries isn’t interested in patience. His urgency is palpable, his blueprint precise. Indiana basketball isn’t waiting for a return—it’s building one, brick by red brick.
